Best Psychology Programs in California (2026)
Psychology is one of the most popular bachelor's majors in California and nationwide. The schools below are ranked by program strength and graduate outcomes — important because Psychology bachelor's degrees pay best when paired with a graduate degree, and a strong undergraduate program matters for graduate school admission.
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#1
Claremont McKenna College
Claremont, CA
Net Price
$26,039/yr
Median Earnings
$127,532
Grad Rate
91%
Psychology Share
5.6%
#2
University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA
Net Price
$14,538/yr
Median Earnings
$100,212
Grad Rate
93%
Psychology Share
3.3%
#3
University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
Net Price
$14,659/yr
Median Earnings
$88,581
Grad Rate
93%
Psychology Share
11.1%
#4
University of California-San Diego
La Jolla, CA
Net Price
$14,794/yr
Median Earnings
$96,197
Grad Rate
86%
Psychology Share
9.2%
#5
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA
Net Price
$18,832/yr
Median Earnings
$96,304
Grad Rate
86%
Psychology Share
2.8%
#6
University of California-Irvine
Irvine, CA
Net Price
$13,866/yr
Median Earnings
$83,432
Grad Rate
87%
Psychology Share
12.0%
#7
University of California-Davis
Davis, CA
Net Price
$14,318/yr
Median Earnings
$86,999
Grad Rate
86%
Psychology Share
9.9%
#8
University of California-Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA
Net Price
$16,807/yr
Median Earnings
$82,568
Grad Rate
83%
Psychology Share
11.7%
#9
Dominican University of California
San Rafael, CA
Net Price
$35,567/yr
Median Earnings
$90,053
Grad Rate
75%
Psychology Share
10.7%
#10
Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, CA
Net Price
$50,518/yr
Median Earnings
$86,034
Grad Rate
79%
Psychology Share
9.0%
#11
Chapman University
Orange, CA
Net Price
$46,708/yr
Median Earnings
$80,694
Grad Rate
82%
Psychology Share
9.2%
#12
California Lutheran University
Thousand Oaks, CA
Net Price
$26,445/yr
Median Earnings
$77,620
Grad Rate
69%
Psychology Share
13.2%
#13
University of California-Riverside
Riverside, CA
Net Price
$12,672/yr
Median Earnings
$72,974
Grad Rate
76%
Psychology Share
9.7%
#14
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
Pomona, CA
Net Price
$9,404/yr
Median Earnings
$77,464
Grad Rate
68%
Psychology Share
5.9%
#15
California State University-Fullerton
Fullerton, CA
Net Price
$5,115/yr
Median Earnings
$69,015
Grad Rate
69%
Psychology Share
10.9%
#16
University of La Verne
La Verne, CA
Net Price
$20,523/yr
Median Earnings
$74,115
Grad Rate
62%
Psychology Share
11.3%
#17
Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA
Net Price
$27,235/yr
Median Earnings
$78,572
Grad Rate
55%
Psychology Share
12.9%
#18
California State University-Long Beach
Long Beach, CA
Net Price
$9,426/yr
Median Earnings
$69,554
Grad Rate
70%
Psychology Share
8.0%
#19
Menlo College
Atherton, CA
Net Price
$32,324/yr
Median Earnings
$76,858
Grad Rate
52%
Psychology Share
14.2%
#20
Azusa Pacific University
Azusa, CA
Net Price
$22,597/yr
Median Earnings
$71,595
Grad Rate
62%
Psychology Share
10.1%
#21
Biola University
La Mirada, CA
Net Price
$32,530/yr
Median Earnings
$64,126
Grad Rate
68%
Psychology Share
11.1%
#22
California State University-Chico
Chico, CA
Net Price
$14,157/yr
Median Earnings
$70,012
Grad Rate
62%
Psychology Share
7.9%
#23
California Baptist University
Riverside, CA
Net Price
$24,138/yr
Median Earnings
$67,633
Grad Rate
61%
Psychology Share
10.0%
#24
California State University-Stanislaus
Turlock, CA
Net Price
$3,565/yr
Median Earnings
$65,560
Grad Rate
53%
Psychology Share
17.5%
#25
California State University-Northridge
Northridge, CA
Net Price
$6,346/yr
Median Earnings
$63,721
Grad Rate
57%
Psychology Share
12.4%
Why a Psychology degree?
Psychology pairs well with healthcare, HR, education, and law. Strong undergraduate programs feed competitive graduate school placements that drive long-term earnings.
Common career paths: Clinical Psychologist (with grad school) · School Counselor · HR Specialist · Market Researcher · Social Worker
Typical starting salary range: $45,000–$70,000
Find your best fit, not just the highest rank
Our 2-minute quiz weights cost, earnings, graduation rate, and other priorities to your family — and matches you to schools that actually fit, not just the top of a list.
Take the fit quiz →Other majors in California
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